Thomas Wolfe Monument
UNC (Chapel Hill)
Description: This monument honors author Thomas Wolfe. It is an 850 pound bronze bas-relief mounted on a freestanding brick wall. The relief depicts an angel, a reference to Wolfe's most famous work, "Look Homeward, Angel". The restoration of the monument was completed in 2006.
Inscription:
Front (inscribed on angel's wing): OH LOST, AND BY THE WIND GRIEVED, GHOST, COME BACK AGAIN
Rear: THOMAS WOLFE / UNC CLASS OF 1920 / REMEMBERING SPEECHLESSLY WE / SEEK THE GREAT FORGOTTEN LANGUAGE, / THE LOST LANE-END INTO HEAVEN, A / STONE, A LEAF, AN UNFOUND DOOR. / WHERE? WHEN? / LOOK HOMEWARD, ANGEL / 1929
Dedication date: 5/1/1969
Creator: Armistead Maupin, Designer
Richard Kinnaird, Designer
David Swanson, Architect
Richmond, VA, Foundry
Materials & Techniques: Bronze, brick
Sponsor: UNC Class of 1966
Post dedication use: Though the New East location was appropriate, the monument was hidden and received few visitors and fell into disrepair. After a long campaign by admirers, the University restored the brass relief and mounted it on a free-standing brick wall in the memorial courtyard between Murphey and Greenlaw Halls.
Location: The monument is now located between Greenlaw and Murphey Halls on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Former Locations: The monument was unveiled in Person Hall in 1969 but was moved to an alcove next to the New East building on campus in 1972.
City: Chapel Hill
County: Orange
Subjects: Educational Institutions,Historic Cultural Figures